ALPHA PARTHE.The silence stretched for so long. I stared at their faces. They were all curious and nervous as they waited for me to speak.I hated being summoned. I detested it. But when it had to do with the council, I didn't have much of a choice."I haven't made a decision yet," I spoke, hoping the meeting ends soon. They were prying into my personal life, and I didn't like it."You don't have much of a choice here, Parthe," A voice sounded, and I turned to see who it was.Only one person had the right to speak to me in that manner. Elder Geth. My late mother's father… My grandfather.Funny how people might think we'd be so close since he was my grandfather, but no. We had our grievances against each other. Some hatchets just can't be buried easily. Especially not when those hatchets had a lot to do with his son, Rorden."Why would you say that, Elder Geth?" I asked with every ounce of respect I could muster."You have found your fated mate. What else do you want? You haven't reje
LUXURIA.I halted when the strange man spoke to me. I had never seen him in the pack before, and I knew I had to be careful.He was young, probably in his late twenties.I should have kept walking, but his striking resemblance to Alpha Parthe stopped me in my tracks. There was something almost familiar about him—something I couldn't quite place. His sharp jawline, the intensity in his eyes. But the resemblance only went so far. His energy was different.He was gorgeous, I must say. But that shouldn't concern me. All that was important to me was getting to the garden and getting the new recipe I just came across from my research."How are you doing, beautiful?" he asked, adjusting his short brown locks that fell loosely around his eyes. I couldn't help but smile, though something about the way he spoke set me on edge.I felt the warmth of his compliment, though I wasn't used to being approached so boldly. There was something about him that drew me in—his confidence, the easy way he spo
LUXURIA.Rorden's gaze flickered past me, and I watched as his posture shifted—straightening, shoulders squaring, his easy demeanor sharpening in an instant. I slowly turned, my heart hammering in my chest as I came face-to-face with the storm that was Alpha Parthe.His dark eyes burned with an intensity I hadn't seen before. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his entire frame rigid with barely contained fury."Alpha," I breathed, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel the crackling anger radiating off him like wildfire.He said nothing at first, his gaze flicking from me to Rorden, who still stood a few paces behind.I sensed an underlying war raging between both of them. It seemed they knew each other so well... This was beyond just an Alpha and a prodigal pack member."Parthe..." Rorden called so casually that I feared for him. "It's been a long time, brother." He said, the playfulness in his tone was gone.Brother?Was this Alpha Parthe's brother? Oh, Goddess...
ALPHA PARTHE.Fuck.Did she just say those words to me? She was surely playing with flames. And it would burn her whole.I looked down at her plump lips, which were slightly parted, and, gods, the temptation was killing."Luxuria..." I whispered into her ear, "Don't mistake this for love. It's only an obsession, a hunger, a need to consume you whole. Don't be deceived." I said, trying all I could to hide how I truly felt."Please... Alpha. Touch me." She said to me. I gazed into her pleading eyes, and my cock twitched painfully."Your innocence is fragile, and I will shatter it with every breath you take near me. That's not what I want for you right now." I said, letting go of her and walking toward the open window.I hoped the air would calm my burning nerves."You've already taken my innocence... On the first night we met. I am your mate, Alpha. You've only teased me since you brought me here. Why do that if you do not have plans of touching me?"I could sense a little bit of anger
ALPHA PARTHE.My mind had been consumed by Luxuria all day. The feel of her, the way her presence stirred something inside me—a darkness that I didn't recognize. It unsettled me more than I cared to admit.This strange darkness I felt seemed to come alive whenever I was around her. It felt ancient and powerful.Luxuria is not a witch. I know that. Otherwise, I would have felt it already.I am an AshBlood witch, even though I have decided only to use my powers when necessary.I am a rare kind of a dark witch. A kind most parts of our realm considered evil and dangerous - one of the things that made me feared and respected.Of all levels of dark witches - Cthonic Witches, Blood Witches, and Verdigris witches - the AshBlood witches are the most dreaded.Cthonic Witches draw their power from the darkest depths of the earth, commanding the power of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the restless spirits trapped beneath the surface.Blood Witches manipulate blood and the very essence of l
LUXURIA.I decided to get myself busy with chores in order not to lose my sanity. The events in my life have been overwhelming and confusing.I was beginning to think of stupid possibilities - what if I am also becoming like the Alpha? Was his curse rubbing off on me? What if I was truly cursed like everyone in my pack thought?I had to clear my head before I made drastic decisions that I might regret.I tried to confide in Dashi, but it didn't feel right. She was a member of this pack and was obligated to report anything or anyone that seemed like a threat to the Alpha.Since I hadn't fully understood what I was going through, it was best to keep it to myself while doing more research.The weakness I felt was becoming a concern to me. Every day, it seemed my condition worsened, and sometimes I feared for my life. My body ached more than usual today. It was as if every ounce of strength was slowly draining out of me. It's almost as if whatever this was, it was trying to take my life,
LUXURIA.There was silence. My heart pounded so loudly that I wondered if Rorden could hear it. His hazel eyes were piercing, studying me so intensely that it made my skin prickle with unease.We had come into my chamber, and I wondered what he had in mind. He wasn't saying anything."Rorden..." My voice came out in a shaky whisper, barely able to form his name. But he didn't respond. He just kept staring, those sharp eyes of his raking over me like he was trying to decipher some unsolvable puzzle."When did you notice this?" He finally spoke, and I was thankful he did.I swallowed hard, hesitating. How could I even begin to explain this to him? I didn't fully understand it myself. But I had to open up to him because he already knew my secret either way. There was no need to hide it any further.I only prayed the Alpha would believe me when I told him I had considered telling him before I bumped into Rorden."A few weeks ago..." I replied.He didn't move. His gaze didn't soften. Inste
ALPHA PARTHE.I just rounded up a hectic day, and all I desired was a hot bath and some sleep. The Harlem brothers almost made me lose control over their dispute.Sometimes, I wonder why I still let them stay in my pack. They always brought more trouble than peace to those around them.Thankfully, I was able to settle the dispute without having to rip their heads off.A knock sounded on my door, and I grunted before answering it."Shikta," I called when she walked into my chamber, "what do you want?" I asked in displeasure. I was too exhausted to entertain anyone right now."Alpha. Sorry to barge into you at this time. I know you must be very exhausted," She said, hurrying over to where I stood as she helped me undress.She always knew what to do at every point. One of the reasons I liked her alot."Yes. And I want to have some rest," I replied tiredly."Of course. How about a massage to help you rest better?" She asked, pulling me into the bathroom.Knowing that she intended to help
ALPHA PARTHE.Two thousand warriors drew their swords for a battle they knew they'd lose either way.Fools. Lesser men always are so foolish.The battleground was charged with the kind of energy I liked. Fear. Panic. Terror. It poured from Lucius's men like a pungent stench, feeding the darker corners of my soul.Even though Lucius was too much of a coward to admit his wrong and decided to keep up with his pride, his men were obviously aware of what they were up against.I watched them with detached emotion. They looked pathetic.The image of my sleeping mate kept replaying in my head. She was so beautiful when she slept. Especially when in a deep slumber like the one I had just put her in.She'd thought I'd abandon this war? She thought wrong. I had to use my powers to put her in a slumber to be able to leave."You're sure about this?" I heard Urik ask from beside me."What? You think you need to leave?" I asked in a menacing tone without even looking at him.Urik had been against th
LUXURIA.Parthe has been too adamant about this war, and I have a bad feeling about it. That's why I did what I had to do."The men are ready, Alpha," Vixtin said, adjusting his armor. His pregnant mate was almost due for delivery. Why would Parthe put him in harm's way just at the peak of his life?"Tell the warriors securing the entrances of the pack to get more weapons if need be. We wouldn't want any surprises while we are out there," Parthe said, not lifting his head from the map he was studying.I gathered the courage I needed and entered his courtroom, "Parthe?" I called while approaching him."How much longer did you intend to stand there?" He asked so casually.Of course, what did I expect? He'd smelt me from where I was hiding and contemplating if I should talk to him or not.I cleared my throat, "Please don't go for this war. I have a bad feeling about it and... And..." I trailed off, my voice choking with restrained sobs.Even though we've both not been the best of mates,
LUXURIA.Of all people, I never thought I’d ever do anything to save the one woman who had always been my greatest problem in life. I was done sulking and feeling dejected when I decided to take an evening stroll—something I rarely do. I had gone to see Rorden but he was nowhere to be found. Just as I was making my way back to my chamber, I saw the commotion unfolding right in front of me. I didn’t hesitate to think twice before swinging into action and knocking the intruder off of Shikta. This might not be for Shikta. This might be for the greater good. I just want to believe so. Otherwise, this was a perfect opportunity to get rid of one of my problems on a platter of gold. “Speak!” The Beta’s fist collided with the man’s already bleeding jaw.The man knelt in the center of the dimly lit chamber, blood dripping from his nose, his face swollen and battered.He wasn’t healing. He’d been beaten with wolf’s bane long enough to weaken his healing ability.“Who sent you? What were yo
SHIKTA.I lay back on the bed, my hands resting on the swell of my belly, but the ache in my lower back made it impossible to find a comfortable position. Every shift of my body brought a sharp, jabbing pain, and my feet throbbed from swelling.I wanted to cry, but tears wouldn’t solve anything.I tried to talk with Parthe but he was enraged for reasons best known to him. I also went to spend some time with Tervan but he pushed me away. His words played over in my mind, his usual excuse for keeping me at arm’s length. “I need more time.” Time for what? I wasn’t asking him to love me. I wasn’t even asking for much—just his presence, his support, someone to lean on. I wasn’t the one who decided this pup would exist, yet here I was, facing the brunt of it alone.A lot of times, I need the father of my pup around… Or, at least, a man around. But I was mostly alone. The troubles of pregnancy weren’t something I ever envisaged bearing alone.It was a cool night, and taking my usual walk
LUXURIA.All eyes were on me expectantly. Every gaze felt like a weight pressing down on me, and the intensity of their expectations made my throat tighten.The hall was quiet. So quiet that the footsteps of a tiptoeing ant would be heard if there was any around.I swallowed hard, feeling the tremble in my hands. “I…” I began, my voice shaking slightly. My palms were damp against the smooth wood of the podium. My eyes darted to Parthe, his jaw clenched tight, his gaze like coal-black fire boring into me. I could feel his displeasure.Urik was disgusted. Tervan had a neutral expression.My eyes stung with tears. What’s going on? The last thing I remembered was standing outside with Rorden, wondering if I had actually seen Sibille or if it was just a figment of my imagination. How did I get on the stage? The speech I had diligently prepared and rehearsed for hours, all jumbled up in my head. I couldn’t even remember a line from it. “What is going on?” Parthe asked through the mind
LUXURIA.I was already coming to a decision. I had to. As painful as it seemed, I had to start accepting my fate—the cruel fate Selene had subjected me to.Perhaps I could swallow my pain and hatred and seek refuge with my father, Nelfas. Would he cast me away? I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. He never cared about my birth mother until she died at the hands of Odren. Odren’s pack was never an option. I’ll be more of a laughingstock now than ever. And Rella? She’d make sure to make my life hell than she used to, now that she finally had the one thing she could kill me for. Although the last time Niksha visited me, she told me Rella and Kahel’s union wasn’t as blossoming as it should be, but that they were getting better by the day and Kahel was learning to love and accept Rella really fast. My heart ached. Rella was finally having the last laugh. I thought I would find peace with my mate, instead, I lost the man I loved with my life, and now, my mate too. I wiped the tear that sl
ALPHA PARTHE“She needs you around, Alpha. It is a critical time for her. She’s weak and the unborn pup needs its father close always,” Dalia explained.She had found out. She fucking had.I wanted this to be a secret until I could figure out what to do but right now, more people were getting to know about it.I looked at Shikta’s almost unconscious form and I didn’t know what to feel—anger, hate, disgust?“Dalia. Not a word about this to anyone. Not even a soul,” I said and I saw the look of surprise that crossed her face.“As you wish, Alpha.” She bowed, “But she could grow weaker by the day and the pup is at risk of being unhealthy without the presence of its father. Please, make time out of your very busy schedule and spend around her. It will be beneficial to you both in the future.” She added.I only nodded casually and walked out without saying another word.I stood in front of Luxuria’s chamber, unsure if she’d want to see me. The realization of how I had spoken to her in the
ALPHA PARTHE."Search everywhere! Send spies to every other pack. She couldn't have vanished from the face of the earth without any trace!" I yelled at my warriors who had returned with nothing but bad news.I'd put in every effort necessary to find Eldora but all to no avail. It was eating me up rapidly. I needed closure. I needed to know if Zendaya was truly the one.A part of me refused to believe that I had ruined my chances of living with my own hands. I just... I just needed something... Anything! Fuck it! I just needed to see Eldora!Nelfas' daughter was out of the question. She was underage and without her wolf. I couldn't even take her as a substitute. There has to be another way!I slammed my fist on the table before me, shattering it to pieces. My rage has been almost out of control lately.My body trembled and I needed a release. I needed to take out this anger. Perhaps, I could go for a hunt tonight.The full moon was just yesterday and the hunt was less satisfying. It w
LUXURIA.I tried to steady the tremors in my hands and the rapid beating of my heart as I washed off the dirt on my body.I felt better after having a warm bath.I had been training with Vixtin all morning, and it was a great way of letting out some of the anxiety that was constantly plaguing me for no reason.Sometimes, when I let out some steam in the training process, it keeps me sane and tames the chaos that the voices in my head keep whispering to me.On several occasions, I've had to fight the urge to rip Vixtin into pieces for no reason. The urge to hurt people around me was becoming unbearable, but I didn't intend to give in to it.Not now. I wouldn't want to be executed.Last night was the night of the full moon, and I barely found any prey, save for a young rogue whom I regretted killing.The more I killed, the more I wanted to kill. It was intoxicating and it bothered me.I almost didn't need the full moon to crave blood anymore. I am totally scared because anyone could be